DIY: Chrysanthemum Tea

by Be-Blogger U.K. on: January 24th, 2012

If you’re still celebrating Lunar New Year and if you still keep some festive plants like potted Chrysanthemum flowers, you could use the flowers to brew tea before they get thrown into your compost pit. Chrysanthemum tea is known as summer’s ‘cooling’ herbal drink to aide dry throat, acne and colds. It can be drank hot or cold.

You see, a while ago I bought a bunch of 5 (fresh) yellow Chrysanthemums for £5 from the Columbia Road Flower Market, now I’m showing you a quick and simple step by step guide on how to brew one yourself.

Turn the stalk upside down and gently tap to remove dirt and other debris, with a pair of scissors cut off the bloom stem/stalk at the base of the flower.

Drop the flower head into a teapot, pour in hot boiling water and leave to steep for 10-15 minutes. I normally rinse and steep again for another 15 minutes to lessen the flower’s bitter taste and leftover dirt.

After 10-15 minutes of steeping, the resulting transparent water turns yellow in colour, now pour the tea in a pretty tea cup or a small cereal bowl.

Add a lump of sugar, sweetener or a teaspoon of honey to add flavour.

Of course you may add some petals in the tea to add a little decoration.